August 14, 2006
Awareness Campaign for Women’s Ordination
Our Awareness Campaign continues (click here for more information) as we publicize the bishops's responses to the Pittsburgh ordinations and provide suggestions for how we can tap into the power of the 70% of the U.S. Catholic community who support women’s ordination!
Our vision is to reclaim the Roman Catholic Church’s early tradition of a discipleship of equals. We want to return the church we love back to the community that Jesus modeled for us, where women's leadership and wisdom is fully included in all aspects of ministry.
Please send this action alert to everyone you know who is interested in women’s justice and equality!
- Action Alerts
- ** New letter-writing campaign! *** Send a letter of support for women’s ordination to your bishop via WOC!
- Become a member of the national support team and network to handle the “threats” of excommunication
- Contact Liguori Publications to register your disapproval for pulling Bridget Mary Meehan’s books
- Members only: Vote for WOC’s Board of Directors – send in your ballot by August 31!
- Women's Ordination News
- Upcoming Events
- Attend the first Mass of the newly ordained RC Womenpriest in your area!
- Attend our next event! “Bridging the Gap: Gender Equality, Sex and Ordination,” November 3, Milwaukee, Wisc.
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Action Alerts
1. !*** New letter-writing campaign! *** Send a letter of support for women’s ordination to your bishop via WOC!
WOC wants to mobilize the 70% of U.S. Catholics who support women’s ordination! We are asking you to send letters addressed to your bishop to the WOC office, and we will deliver them. Please remember to send the letter to us, so we will have an accurate count of how many letters are sent. If you would like to send a copy to your bishop as well, please do.
We want to demonstrate the support of the nearly 50 million U.S. Catholics -- and millions more worldwide -- in favor of bringing about full equality and justice for women. Please send your letter of support to nvazquez@womensordination.org or PO Box 2693 Fairfax, VA 22031.
Look for a paper copy of the letter below in WOC’s upcoming mailing!
*** SAMPLE LETTER (SEND TO WOC BY MAIL OR EMAIL) ***
Most Reverend ______________, Diocese of _______________,
As a member of the Roman Catholic Church, I am writing to let you know that I support the women’s ordination movement and its efforts to advocate for equality and justice. I have been a member of the Women's Ordination Conference for ___ years. (Write about your activity within WOC or how long you have served in the church).
I would like you to know that I am praying for the growth of the church and its members, including clergy and laity, especially at this time when statements of excommunication could affect all participants of the women’s ordination ceremony that took place in Pittsburgh on July 31, 2006.
I believe women should be able to serve as full partners in ministry. Because, this would reflect Jesus’ ministry, and it would help create church structures that speak to the day-to-day struggles of all Catholic people. I am part of the majority of Catholics who support women’s ordination and we do not accept the law that women cannot be ordained. Because the “sense of the faithful” rejects this law, it is invalid.
I pray that together as one community and one church, we are inclusive, participatory and spiritually affirming for all God's people. I pray that all Catholics, clergy and laity, support and accept the prophetic steps the women being ordained have taken including the hundreds of women called to ordination in the U.S. and the world.
In Christ,
(Your name)
2. Join the national support team and network to handle “threats” of excommunication
United in one voice, we will demonstrate that we do not accept Canon 1024, the unjust law which states that only men can receive the sacrament of ordination. According to a time-honored tradition in the church, the law has no force because we do not accept it.
However, we want to be prepared for any action the Vatican may take, so that we can support the ordained women and those who were present at the ordinations. Please contact us at your earliest convenience if you are interested in being a part of the support team and/or the rapid response network. For more information, contact Nidza Vázquez at nvazquez@womensordination.org or call 703-352-1006.
3. Contact Liguori Publications to register your disapproval for pulling Bridget Mary Meehan’s books.
After her ordination as a priest in Pittsburgh, Ligouri Publications issued a statement saying they would no longer distribute her books.
Write to LiguorianWebcs@palmcoastd.com or call (800) 325-9521 to register your disapproval and request that they transfer Bridget Mary Meehan’s books to a mainstream distributor so they will be available to interested readers.
4. Members only: Vote for WOC’s Board of Directors – send in your ballot by August 31!
Voting for the WOC Board of Directors is a right and responsibility of current dues-paying members. Ballot is found in the Summer edition of NewWomen, NewChurch, WOC’s quarterly publication, on the back page. *** It is not a colored sheet of paper, as in the past.***
Ballot must be postmarked by August 31, 2006 to be valid. One ballot per member. To become a member, visit http://www.womensordination.org/pages/memb_frm.html
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Women's Ordination News
August 1-14, 2006
WOC community members continue to be interviewed and quoted in national media, such as The Los Angeles Times, The San Francisco Chronicle, National Public Radio, The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and other on-line news services. Below, you will find a few of these articles and more women’s ordination news.
International coverage
August 11, 2006
MALASIA: World Peace Herald : Women priests face excommunication By United Press International The Roman Catholic Church may excommunicate 15 women in the United States for performing priestly functions after their "ordination." To read more click here
August 10, 2006
INDIA: Indian Catholic : Archbishop Dolan saddened by Wisconsin woman’s attempted ordination Milwaukee (CNA) - Milwaukee Archbishop Timothy Dolan attempted to reach out to and reason with a Wisconsin woman who recently took part in an invalid attempt at ordination to the Roman Catholic priesthood. To read more click here
August 1, 2006
AUSTRALIA: CathNews : American women threatened with excommunication over "ordination" Twelve American Catholic women, who were to be "ordained" as priests and deacons aboard a boat in a Pittsburgh ceremony yesterday, claim to be returning to the practices of the early Church but the local bishop has told them they are a threat to unity. To read more, click here
National coverage
August 14, 2006
Los Angeles Times: Female Priest Defies the Catholic Church
Jane Via said she would probably cry and, sure enough, she did. Midway through her homily at the rented San Diego church used by her upstart congregation, Via choked up, thanking the packed house of 100 worshipers for sustaining her over the last week... To read more, click here
August 11, 2006
Los Angeles Times: 15 Women Who Took Up Priestly Roles Face Excommunication Fifteen Roman Catholic women in the United States, including some Californians, face excommunication after taking up priestly duties following their "ordination" in recent ceremonies designed to challenge the all-male priesthood. To read more, click here
August 9, 2006
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette : Woman faces excommunication over Pittsburgh ceremony A 64-year-old woman faces excommunication for seeking the priesthood in an unsanctioned ordination ceremony in Pittsburgh last month, the Milwaukee Archbishop said. To read more click here
Philadelphia Inquirer: Phila. Archdiocese says ordination ceremony was invalid One woman faces excommunication. Another says a Catholic publisher has pulled her books. To read more, click here
August 8, 2006
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Diocese to report to Rome on women's 'ordination' The Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh is forwarding information to Rome about a July 31 riverboat ceremony in which 12 women claimed to have been ordained as Roman Catholic priests and deacons. To read more, click here
San Francisco Chronicle : Wisconsin woman faces excommunication A 64-year-old woman faces excommunication for seeking the priesthood in an unsanctioned ordination ceremony in Pittsburgh last month, the Milwaukee Archibishop said. To read more, click here
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Upcoming Events
1. Attend the first Mass of the newly ordained Roman Catholic Womenpriest in your area!
Washington, DC Metro Area: Bridget Mary Meehan ’s first Mass will be on Tuesday August 15 at 7:00 p.m. at 5856 Glen Forest Drive, Falls Church, Va . For more details call 703-671-1972.
Minneapolis , MN: Regina Nicolosi ’s Mass of Thanksgiving is planned for September 23rd, 2006. It will be in connection with CTA, MN. The event will be at Normandale College, 9700 France Ave S., Minneapolis, MN from 4:00 - 8:00 PM. It is entitled "Ancient and Contemporary Models of Womenpriests and Deacons." Dorothy Irvin will show her slides, Regina will preside at the Eucharist, and Victoria Rue will preach. Janice Sevre-Duszynska will be invited to function as deacon. Following the mass will be dinner. For further information and registration please contact: Judy and Bill McGuire, 612 927 6825 (H) or 612 600 6825(C).
2. Attend our next event! The National Catholic Ministries Alliance presents a day-long seminar before the Call to Action conference in Milwaukee, Wisc.
November 3: “Bridging the Gap: Gender Equality, Sex and Ordination”
As a member of the National Catholic Ministries Alliance, WOC is planning a day-long pre-CTA Conference seminar with keynote speakers Anthony Padovano, Andrea Johnson, Christine Mayr-Lumetzberger, Mary Ramerman and more to discuss and promote the movement for an inclusive and renewing Catholic priesthood.
A panel will feature Carmen Lane, Ray Grosswirth, Tom Honoré, and Kathy Vandenberg, talking about their individual journeys as women and married men living out their call to ordination. For more information, contact Nidza Vázquez at nvazquez@womensordination.org or call 703-352-1006.
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"The key to change… is to let go of fear."
~
Rosanne Cash
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*** This ACTION ALERT email is from the Women's Ordination Conference. Send comments, e-mail address changes, or information for future ACTION ALERTS to Nidza Vazquez, at nvazquez@womensordination.org ***
*** Founded in 1975, Women's Ordination Conference (WOC) is the oldest and largest national organization working solely for women to be ordained as deacons, priests and bishops into a continually renewing Catholic Church. For more information about WOC and how to become a WOC member, visit http://www.womensordination.org ***
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